Joe Rogan Tears Apart Brendan Schaub on Podcast: 'You Are Not an Elite Fighter'

In a live, face-to-face interview, UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan verbally skewered heavyweight Brendan Schaub, claiming Schaub was not a high-level fighter and suggesting he was risking major brain damage by continuing with his UFC career.

Fresh off his TKO loss to Travis Browne—his second straight defeat and third knockout loss in a little over three years—Saturday at UFC 181, Schaub, a frequent guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, didn't seem to expect the confrontation and was left in stunned silence for much of the extended exchange.

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Rogan did state more than once that he has a close personal relationship with Schaub and made the comments out of concern for his friend.

That portion of Monday's edition of The Joe Rogan Experience is apparently no longer publicly available, but Twitter user @Fight_Ghost captured some of Rogan's choicest quotes, which were collected and curated by Mookie Alexander of Bloody Elbow.

“You are a smart dude. You know about concussions you have had. The reality is, I don’t see you beating elite guys. You have no fluidity," Rogan was quoted as telling Schaub. “When I look at the performances, you are not an elite fighter. I know what I am seeing. You are not recognizing.”

"

“15 minutes with an elite fighter. You can’t do that. Your brain doesn’t get better from punches. Werdum, Cain is another level than you.”

— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014"

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Rogan to Schaub: “You telegraph too much. It is real obvious what you are going to do. You are predictable. Arlovski was a terrible fight”.

— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014"

Eventually, Schaub rallied, half-heartedly defending himself from the broadside and also reiterating a previous point that he believed the referee's stoppage at UFC 181 was premature.

"

Rogan: “what holes do you see in your game?” Schaub: “I disagree with you when you say I can’t beat Dos Santos or Cain”. Whoa.

— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014"

"

Schaub: “Joe, I got fucking rocked!” Rogan: “Then it’s good Yamasaki stopped it” Schaub: “Not when I am looking at him, talking to him”.

— Fight_Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) December 9, 2014"

But by then, the damage had been done. 

It is uncertain whether Schaub will continue to appear on Rogan's podcast or to what extent the confrontation might affect Schaub's thinking as far as his future in professional MMA is concerned.